Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1887-02-17
Mr.. camden Interviewed.

anything to say in reference to the ultima
tum of the anti-caucus Democrats, and es-
pecially as to the many general charges and
personal grievances contained in the paper.
The Senator said: ut seems to be based
upon very remarkable assumptions and
vague we believes All that is said seems
to be only a repetition of the old story of
the West Virginia Democrat. l have here
tofore made it a rule not to offer a defense
to any charges made against me. l have
never in any manner replied to any charge
or misrepresentation, preferring to leave the
people of the State to judge of me by my
acts and record, and have very little to
say now"
"But, Senator" said, at seems very ap-
propriate that you should say something in
relation to some of the charges in that pa
per.
81 can easily call attention." he replied,
"to the incorrectness of some of the state
ments which will demonstrate the loose
character of the whole paper. For instance,
they say we believe, moreover, that in some
counties where nominations had been made
that were unfriendly to Mr.. Camden, an un-
seen hand had placed independent candi-
dates in the field and encouraged them to de-
feat the regular nominees The ridiculous
ness of this charge viii be apparent when
you reflect that there were only two indie
penden;s elected to the Legislature, and
both of them are voting steadily against
me, and so far as know and believe there
was not smother Independent candidate in
any of the other counties in the State.
They also charge that Federal Office holders
were here in my interest during the election
and cite the United States Marshal Collec-
tor of Internal Revenue, and the District
Attorney. I can truthfully say that none
of these gentlemen were here at my request
but suppose they had a right to come and
go as they pleased.
"They do not, however, state that james
II. Hurry a disappointed candidate for
United States Marshal, has been here for
weeks using every means in his power to
prejudice members against me; that j. c.
Anderson, one of the disappointed applicants
for Collector of Internal Revenue, has spent
weeks here not only in vindictiyely urging
members not to vote for me, but also in
writing letters and sending petitions out
through the State TO get signers among his
friends to influence men to vote against me /;
and that the Hon. Joseph Sprigg, one Of
the disappointed applicants for United
States District Attorney, has been here OPP
posing me- and that other disappointed Of
fce-seekers have been represented here by
their friends, seeking revenge against me.
The truth is that patronage instead of ad-
ding strength and friends is usually, as it
has been in this instance, made a leverage
for organized opposition and the pooling Of
grievances.
another of the we believe charges is,
that Many of the delegates during the last
campaign had been rendered by Mr.. Cam
den and in many instances had received
money frem him to secure their election,
and that it was claimed by Mr.. Camden's
friends that this fact placed these delegates
under such obligations to Mr.. Camden that
they would not refuse to vote for him
This charge, so far as know, is utterly I'M
true. There is not single member of this
Legislature who is under the slightest per-
sonal obligation to me or that has ever re-
ceived the slightest intimatiOn from me to
that effect or that | have ever personally
communicated with upon the subject with 4
view of placing him under obligations
Neither have | contributed to any member
of this Legislature personally or otherwise
any aid in his election with any such I'M
derstandng. | make this specific state
ment as q positive reiut alton of what is in
simulated upon this subject.
"Now as to controlling the newspapers |
wish to say without fear Of contradiction
lldt 1 nave not COHouilCu Nitu uOI doAOu III
advance the position that a single Demo
cratic paper in the State would occupy up
on the Senatorial question. The expires
sions from the newspapers Of the State are
their free, unbiased opinions from their
own standpoints and without Inducements
of any kind, and in this connection | will
add that was forcbly reminded the other
day by an editor of an influential Demo
cratic paper in my want of courtesy IN not
acknowledging by word or letter the effort
he was making for party usage and party
success. could not but feel and acknOwl-
edge the justice of his criticism"
zone more question, Senator: How about
the charge the large majority of the Demo
Gratis of the State are opposed to you and
are represented by the tweye?"
THAT is a question cannot discuss.
The thirty-eight caucus Democrats must
judge whether they or the twelve know best
how to represent their constituencies"
A dispatch from San Francisco Thursday
says: "At the Grand Opera House last
night Adelina Patti was giving her last
concert for the season, when, after she had